Part 1 of Essay
International law is the body of legal rules that apply between sovereign states and such other entities as have been grantedinternational personality (status acknowledged by the international community). The rules of international law are of a normative character, that is, they prescribe towards conduct, and are potenti ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... The commands of international law must be those that the states impose upon themselves, as states must give consent to the commands that they will follow. It is a direct expression of raison d'etat, the "interests of the state", and aims to serve the state, as well as protect the state by giving its rights and duties. This is done through treaties and other consensual engagements which are legally binding. The case-law of the ICJ is an important aspect of the UN's contribution to the development of interna ....